Throughout California and the entire United States artists from all disciplines are reeling from the news of President Trump’s budget cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Without this and other financial support how do they continue? If you have not heard this devastating news, here are just three examples of what has been reported over the last few weeks. I also highly recommend that you read LA Dance Chronicle writer Nancy Dobbs Owen’s article with reactions from Los Angeles dance artists.
“Hundreds of arts groups of various sizes across the U.S. received emails notifying them of the withdrawal and termination of their grants late on Friday. The updates, which came from a generic “arts.gov” email address, appeared in grantees’ inboxes just hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the agency entirely from the federal budget.” NPR Culture
“After a sweeping White House budget request released in May that did not include allocations for the federal arts funding agency, dozens of institutions have received abrupt notices that their NEA grant applications were either denied or rescinded. The grantees received termination emails that stated that the NEA was “updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President,” according to NPR. Artnet
“The NEA is the latest target of Trump’s sweeping overhaul of federal cultural agencies as he seeks to eliminate what he calls “woke” influences. The president has fired top officials, cut funding and demanded new guidelines at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Endowment for the Humanities.” AP News
Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, etc. were already facing huge financial difficulties following the loss of revenue caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, the horrific Los Angeles fires only added to the struggle to recover. Other factors already facing a wounded industry include:
- Rising costs of labor law compliance and venue rental;
- The expiration of federal NEA pandemic recovery grants; and
- Reduced state arts support in the 2024-25 budget.
Because the NEA has issued grants to many art organization throughout the US, the budget cuts imposed on the NEA affect all the arts organizations funding from multiple sources. One of the earliest signs of how these “trickle down” to artists in California are the resent changes in our state arts budget for the next fiscal year.
I receive articles and information every day about this subject. The latest two were from a colleague Laurie Sefton who forwarded an article from the California Arts Advocates, and a press release from Lucy Pollak Public Relations regarding California Governor Newsom’s proposal to reverse funds for Equitable Payroll Fund and how they will impact jobs.
As the CA Arts Advocates assesses the situation; “Proposed cuts to Arts Organization hit an already underfunded industry.”
Information from Sacramento provided by the CA Arts Advocates states: “Arts Advocates statewide are pushing back on Governor Newsom’s May Revision proposal to revert $11.5 million from a key program supporting small nonprofit performing arts organizations—theaters, regional orchestras, operas, and dance groups —located in every region of California.”
“The proposed cuts to the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) come on top of a troubling trend of deep, disproportionate cuts to arts and culture funding in California. Since 2023, the state has slashed over $70 million in previously approved investments, including:
- A $10 million reduction to the California Arts Council across two years;
- $27.9 million in cuts to Museum Grant funds;
- $11 million eliminated from the Arts in Parks initiative; and
- $20 million cut from the California Cultural Districts program.
“This deduction in funding to the arts will have a significant toll on local arts nonprofits and cultural institutions. The CA Arts Advocates say that if the “Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) is also eliminated, the consequences for California’s live theater, music and small performing arts organizations will be devastating.”
“Performing arts organizations are estimated to provide over 250,000 jobs statewide and drive a powerful multiplier effect: for every 100 performing arts jobs, an additional 156 jobs are supported in adjacent sectors. These organizations enrich local economies, strengthen community identity, and create accessible pathways to arts education and participation.”
Governor Gavin Newsom – Photo from the web.
Governor Newsom’s proposal to reverse funds for Equitable Payroll Fund will negatively impact jobs. “The proposed $11.5 million cut to the Fund, which comes on top of a troubling trend of deep, disproportionate cuts to arts and culture funding in California, represents a small fraction of California’s budget.” Although this funding deduction will have a huge impact on workers in the California performing arts industry, it will have absolutely no impact on California’s overall deficit.
“News of the Governor’s proposed cuts couldn’t be worse timed,” said Julie Baker, with California Arts Advocates. “The PAEPF was well underway in implementation before this announcement. Funds were committed and applications were under active review for award when the proposed cut was announced. These funds were not “unspent”—many community small, non-profit performing arts organizations were expecting these critical dollars in just a few short months to keep their doors open.”
A statistic that I was unaware of and somewhat surprised by is that California ranks 35th in the nation for arts funding, despite being #1 for arts jobs.
“We understand that the state faces a challenging budget deficit and are prepared to support you in making difficult decisions,” states Theater Producers of Southern California board Vice President Beatrice Casagran. “However, the proposed clawback of 100% of the state’s entire investment in the Payroll Fund will eradicate six years of bipartisan legislative efforts to address cascading negative impacts that have led to dire economic instability for workers in the live arts.”
In the press release it states that “California’s performing arts sector generates significant economy activity, providing over 250,000 jobs statewide and driving a powerful multiplier effect: for every 100 performing arts jobs, an additional 156 jobs are supported in other sectors through downstream impacts. On average, each performing arts job results in $13,287 in additional state and local tax revenue. The state and local tax revenue generated by the non-profit performing arts sector is expected to exceed $433 million per year.”
“How many jobs, and how much of that $433 million in annual tax revenue, are we willing to jeopardize for a one-time savings of $11.5 million?” asks Casagran. “We urge the Legislature to reject the Governor’s proposed cuts to this necessary funding. The program is built, and demand is evident, with applications to the fund coming from 38 senate districts and 66 assembly districts. The return on investment—for California’s communities, workforce, and cultural legacy—is clear.”
It is difficult to wrap one’s head around the number of people who will be affected by these federal and state budget cuts to the arts. It is not just those who work in the arts industry, but the audiences and communities served by state, city and neighborhood arts organizations. The venues who present dance, music, theater and visual arts may have to lay off employees, present fewer concerts, performances or gallery showings. Sadly, they may even be forced to close their doors permanently. Think about the children in low income neighborhoods who will no longer be able to see or experience the arts in their schools or to be bused to see The Nutcracker or attend a performance of Peter and the Wolf performed by the LA Phil.
According to Redlands Symphony Executive Director Kevin Eberle-Noel, “Without this funding, our only option will be to hire fewer musicians, reduce staff, and deliver fewer services to our community.”
“As a company that primarily employs actors and technicians of color, as well as other minorities, losing this funding would mean these vulnerable members of our community would lose a pillar of support in a system that is already jeopardized by the current federal administration,” states Towne Street Theatre COO Sarah Allyn Bauer.
What can we do?
Call and or write your representatives and tell them how urgent this situation is and for them to work to reverse it.
VOTE for local, city, state and national representatives who promise to support the arts. Locate the representatives in your district. Look Up your Elected Decision Makers
Check out websites like Americans for the Arts.
Donate however much you can afford to your favorite arts organization. Any amount, large or small, can make a difference.
Also, and the most rewarding, is to support the arts by visiting the museums and art galleries, and by demonstrating how much you love and respect the arts by showing up to live dance, music, theater and performance art performances at the numerous performing arts venues in your city.
Other resources:
Report Funding Cuts: Arts For LA
ArtsActionFund
Americans for the Arts Protect the NEA page
Take Action for the NEA resource page
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image courtesy of Pixabay.
